title: Depression in the elderly: biologic considerations.
abstract: Although support for the biologic basis and effective somatic therapy of geriatric depression is increasing, both patients and clinicians are reluctant to identify and treat the symptoms associated with late-life depression, a broad-based problem in the geriatric population. There is much clinical and biologic overlap between depression and other organic brain disorders such as dementia, with evidence that late-onset depression may sometimes be a prodrome for other organic disorders. These and other issues surrounding geriatric depression are reviewed with a focus on future research questions.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sunderland
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lasser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dukoff
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans